With winter cold fronts on the weekly basis, we fisherman in South West Florida are in the depths of winter... Honestly, with all joking aside, it's cold in Florida.  So, that gives us guides a chance to fix some gear, do maintenance on the boats and trailers, and get geared up for the upcoming spring season.  Our clients should be doing the same... This is the time of year we start booking our Tarpon fishing slots for the Spring-Summer season. So, if you have ever wanted to make your Tarpon fishing dreams a reality, now is the time to contact your most favorite guide, and ink in your day! Tarpon season is on the horizon, and that fishing friends, is the most exciting time to fish South West Florida!

Capt. Mike Slattery
941-626-6946
www.palmislandoutfitters.com
www.charlotteharborchronicles.com
   

"Our fall weather has arrived in Florida".  That phrase is a local joke here in the state.  Because, the only true change we really see is, water temperature starting to decrease because of all the rain.  Other than that, it's still pretty hot throughout the state.  The fish don't seem to mind at all, because they really enjoy our fall season and some cooler water.  The snook fishing has been just plain good inshore.  We are really starting to see our redfish stocks locally bounce back a bit.  Still not like 2016, but we are catching some while snook fishing shorelines throughout the bay.  It's a fun time to go fishing in South West Florida!

Capt. Mike Slattery
941-626-6946
www.palmislandoutfitters.com
www.charlotteharborchronicles.com

Nearshore fishing is getting going for fall.  Gag grouper, mackerel, kingfish, and Bonita along with the usual mixed bag of snapper are being caught around our nearshore reefs and ledges.  Captain Matt Glass fished a group last week out of Palm Island Resort, and produced some great eating fish on a half day trip.  It's a fun time to go fishing in South West Florida!

Capt. Mike Slattery
941-626-6946
www.palmislandoutfitters.com
www.charlotteharborchronicles.com

The rain in the month of August has started to cool the inshore water temperature.  That has triggered the snook to start transitioning from their summer spawning groups of 100+ fish, to start breaking up and moving into fall haunts, for a influx of bait and cooler water temps, as the days begin to get shorter.  We are already starting to see schools of redfish gathering on our grass flats inshore. On some of these big water summer tides, you can find reds gathering in big groups under some mangrove shorelines, lots of "chumming" will get them to come out. For a late summer and early fall bite, it's a fun time to be fishing in South West Florida!

Capt. Mike Slattery
941-626-6946
www.palmislandoutfitters.com
www.charlotteharborchronicles.com

Fishing in South West Florida is on fire fishing followers. Inshore, redfish and snook are being caught daily by fishing guides throughout the region.  Nearshore, our spring migration of kingfish, Bonita, Cobia, and mackerel have moved into the area on our artificial reefs. The weather forecast for the next 10 days looks beautiful. If you are in the area, take advantage and get outside to do some fishing. It's a great time to be fishing in South West Florida!

Capt. Mike Slattery
941-626-6946
www.palmislandoutfitters.com
www.charlotteharborchronicles.com

Merry Christmas fishing followers!!! The fishing around Boca Grande and Palm Island Florida in this holiday season, is great this year. Triple tail are abundant, and are most definitely one of our areas best tasting fish. Sight fishing for them, is the best way to target them. Inshore, we are starting to see some pompano in our deeper sand bottom channels around the bay. This holiday season, buy someone the gift of fishing with a PIO gift certificate. It's a fantastic time of year to go fishing in South West Florida

Capt. Mike Slattery
941-626-6946
www.palmislandoutfitters.com
www.charlotteharborchronicles.com

Happy Thanksgiving fishing folks!!!  Our crew of captains, have a packed week of charters for our holiday here on Palm Island.  Last week I had the chance to take a great client out for a few days of Backcountry fishing, throwing artificial lures.  We caught redfish, snook, trout, and jacks.  The cooler water temperature had staged the fish around Creek mouths, and with the falling tide, we concentrated our efforts on the deeper shorelines.  With beautiful weather here in the forecast for SWFL, we anticipate a fun upcoming week of fishing.

Capt. Mike Slattery
941-626-6946
www.palmislandoutfitters.com
www.charlotteharborchronicles.com

October is one of the best months to fish in Palm Island and Boca Grande Florida. With calm winds and fair weather temperatures, the entire fishery is open for play. Inshore, snook are feeding to fatten up for winter, redfish are grouping up in large schools for their spawn, and trout are feeding over the deep grasses in the harbor. Nearshore, Bonita, mackerel, Cobia, and kingfish have taken up residents on our reefs throughout the area. Tarpon are still roaming the harbor in anticipation of the first few cold fronts of the year, which will move them up the areas river systems. With beautiful weather, clean clear water, and plenty of fishing opportunities, there has never been a better time to go fishing in South West Florida!!!

Capt. Mike Slattery
941-626-6946
www.palmislandoutfitters.com
www.charlotteharborchronicles.com

The October fishing around Palm Island is typically some of the best of the year. Nearshore, we see a seasonal push of mackerel, Bonita, kingfish, and Cobia around our reefs and live bottom. Inshore, we still are catching snook and redfish on our areas flats and Mangrove shorelines. Tarpon are staging on mud flats and deep holes in the upper harbor system. They are fattening up on assorted baits, with the anticipation of winter's arrival. With the shorting of days, and dryer air moving into the region, fish become active and make the fall season on of my favorites, for weather and fish production. It's a great time of year to be fishing in South West Florida!

Capt. Mike Slattery
941-626-6946
www.palmislandoutfitters.com
www.charlotteharborchronicles.com

Summer time in South West Florida means hot temperatures and hot bites.  Snook fishing is strong in the entire area.  From the outside of the back country, to the beaches, and passes, fish of all sizes are being caught on both the incoming and falling tides.  Inshore, our Mangrove snapper fishing is in full swing.  Fishing heavy cover on moving water is the key.  With the right tide, it's not uncommon to limit out, on a full boat limit with in an hour or so.  It's a great time to catch some offshore fish, inside, and a fun time to be fishing in South West Florida!!!

Capt. Mike Slattery
Palm Island & Boca Grande Fishing Charters